Massachusetts cannabis laws are getting an upgrade.
Gov. Maura Healey on Sunday, April 19, signed a measure that changes the state’s laws related to cannabis possession and retail sales — including doubling the amount of marijuana a person can buy, just in time for 4/20.
Healey said in a statement that cannabis “is an important part of the Massachusetts economy — supporting jobs and local businesses and generating revenue for cities and towns.”
“It’s important that we are doing everything we can to make sure this industry is set up for success and that we remain competitive in this fast-growing market,” Healey stated.
The legislation was part of compromise in the House and Senate.
The agreement “charts a more promising path forward for cannabis regulation in our Commonwealth,” said Sen. Adam Gómez, D-Springfield, and Rep. Daniel M. Donahue, D-Worcester, in a statement.
The bill, which would implement some of the largest reforms on the cannabis industry in Massachusetts since dispensaries opened in 2018, was “laid before the governor” on April 9.
The bill, H.5350, takes a wide range of actions, from increasing possession limits to “streamlining” the agency that regulates the industry.
Gómez and Donahue said that the bill “creates new opportunities for small businesses to grow, while providing those historically harmed by marijuana laws with temporary, exclusive access to those opportunities.”
Here are some of the changes:
There are several other changes too: the bill would open the door to allowing retailers to advertise sales or discounts and directs the CCC to study regulations on hemp and cannabinoids, along with other measures.
The bill comes as the state is considering other cannabis-related actions.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee is proposing spending $1 million on a public education campaign about the risks of cannabis, according to WCVB 5, and a ballot proposal would roll back cannabis legalization in the state.
This story has been updated to reflect that the bill was signed.